Spring 2014 Inside:

Page 2:
Psychosocial program gives youth room to grow

Microloan Provided Carmen Acua and Her Family Key To A Better Life

Page 3:

CEPAD stands with refugees

Be social!
/CEPADnica @CEPADnica

The small businesses Carmen Acua (left) and Carolina Estrada Sandino started with your help have given them economic resources, leadership and financial skills, and hope. They thank you for your support, and so do we!

More news:
cepadnica.org/blog

Now, Acua runs a small convenience store and leads a cooperative bank for Donate: the women in her community, Caas cepadnica.org/donate Blancas, and the surrounding areas. CEPAD provides credit for women so they can make investments to improve their economic circumstances. Carmen, a grandmother who is diabetic, earned enough from the store last year to get treatment for a serious illness while still helping with her familys finances. No banks will lend to people in this community, CEPAD is the only one, she

said Carmen Acua, patting the arm of her wooden rocker.

Before CEPAD came, I didnt said. I am so thankful CEPAD took a even have this chair to sit on, chance on us, it helped keep me alive

and so I could keep my family alive. CEPAD relies on support from partners to offer the loan programs in the communities. An investment of $7,000 provides the capital to create a community bank for 35 women. Today, 125 women in four regions are participating in community bank projects and improving their families lives. Your support can make that difference for women in more communities. The loan program helps strengthen womens prospects for their families

Continue reading on back

Youth Gain Confidence, Skills Through Psychosocial Program

Laughter and the thwack of wood against papier mache fill the air in Blsamo, a community near Matagalpa. During the last year, 15 youth in the community met twice a week through CEPADs psychosocial program to learn about the environment, practice public speaking, and develop interpersonal skills like leadership and respect. They celebrated the years end with a presentation and piata.

Kimberley Flores, a student in the program, said she felt a change in herself and the other students. The kids made fun of me because Im fat, but now we respect each other and I am more confident, Kimberley said. She plays more and is healthier too, said her mom Caridad. The program encourages kids to eat healthier and play sports, and psychosocial

program leaders also organize baseball and soccer teams. With your support, CEPAD works with more than 600 youth every year through its psychosocial program. Your donations and partnership make a difference in the lives of kids in Nicaragua who dont have access to sports or other after school programming. CEPADs psychosocial program aims to work with young people in communities who are at risk of drugs and alcohol abuse, physical abuse at home, low school achievement and other challenges. Older teens in the community receive training from CEPAD to lead the groups of 7- to 12-year-olds in twice-monthly workshops. A lot of the kids used to be really shy, but now they will sing

in front of the group or lead a prayer, said Diana Hernandez, 16, the Blsamo group leader. Students learn concrete behaviors, like how to protect the environment by not littering, and broader concepts like leadership and optimism. Before, if I had a test in school I would always be pessimistic and not do well, said Katherine Tatiana Luquez Gutierrez, 12. Now I know how to have a good mind set and I do a lot better in school. We are so thankful for all supporters like you who make it possible for students including Katherine and Kimberley to become better students and leaders. Your pledge today will ensure we can continue to empower youth around Nicaragua.

Kimberley Flores, 12

Page 2

Partnership With United Nations Helps Central American Refugees Find Opportunities in Nicaragua
Nicaraguas neighbors Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, experience daily violence, institutional corruption and the myriad effects of drug trafficking and gang activity. A partnership between CEPAD and the United Nations helps dozens of refugee families make new homes in Nicaragua as they flee violence and poverty in their home countries. CEPAD became the U.N.s Nicaraguan partner to assist with refugee placement in 1979. We work with the U.N. and the Nicaraguan government to provide refugees, typically families, with orientation to the country, basic material supplies like clothes and rent money, spiritual and psychological support, and help with the asylum process. here in Nicaragua without knowing anyone and with few economic resources, said the father of one of the families CEPAD helped in 2013. But we stayed strong as a family because we had one another, and this helped us search for a way to lifet up our circumstances.

Its not too late to schedule a delegation trip through CEPAD in 2014! Please contact partners@cepad.org.ni to start planning your trip. We hope to see you at Nehemias this year.

Now, that man and his wife and four children live safely in Nicaragua and run a business in a small city. He said they are grateful to CEPAD for making their transition smooth. The U.N.s Refugee Agency predicts the number of refugees fleeing certain Latin American countries will increase this year because of rising levels of criminal activity. CEPAD is proud to help provide resources and support to refugees who come here At the moment of arriv- seeking hope after years of al there was confusion, fear living under constant threat and uncertainty to know of violence. we would start our new life

Refugees come to Nicaragua seeking relief from devastation, and they need your help. Your financial support of CEPAD helps families arrive safely in Nicaragua and acquire the resources they need to survive. Please give today!

Page 3

Would you rather receive your CEPAD Report via email? Write audrey@cepadusa.org and well sign you up. See archived reports at cepadnica.org/cepad-report

CEPAD USA PO BOX 1150 Ft. Myers, FL 33902

The CEPAD Report

Continued from front

Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Ft. Myers, FL Permit No. 887

That means kids have a harder time in school. The opportunity to and communities as well, said Carolina Estrada start a small business means women can better Sandino, another one support their families of the banks founders. and keep resources in A lot of times, the the local economy. men dont see women as Carmen said she thanks competent to do anything but be at home, Carolina God every day for CEPAD and the opportunity to said. But now, my start her store. We at husband supports me in my business and we work CEPAD are thankful every day for partners like together. you who make our work The program makes an possible! especially big difference Contact Audrey White to for the many women find out how more about in rural Nicaragua who you can help support this are single moms. These women often have to seek program and others at work outside the city and audrey@cepadusa.org. leave their children with relatives or neighbors.